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October 4, 2003
  Articles on this page: • Green house
Green house Cleaning products that won't dirty the environment Using homemade cleaning products is one way to live a greener life. It can be as simple as using baking soda mixed with water or club soda to remove stains from your carpet. Or polishing your woodwork and furniture with two parts vegetable oil or olive oil with one part lemon juice a little goes a long way. All it takes to get on the green track is a little research and elbow grease. "There are 70,000 chemicals approved by the EPA to be used in cleaners, and there's only a small amount of those that have information available on what effects there may be on human health," said Christina Kiefer, a naturalist at Peoria, Ill., Forest Park Nature Center. Kiefer teaches classes on environmental household strategies. She focuses on weeding out toxic household chemicals and teaching participants effective ways of cleaning and maintaining the home naturally all to leave the world a healthier place. One way to begin is with the products you use around the home. Green cleaning products reduce the amount of hazardous, smog-forming chemicals emitted by traditional all-purpose cleaning products and specialty products, such as metal polishes and glass, tile and tub cleaners, according to Kiefer and the Web site, www.cleanaircounts.org. "Unfortunately, there are traditional cleaners out there that have chemicals we don't know a whole lot about, and were using them in our homes, around our children, around our pets," Kiefer said. Many traditional commercial products release volatile organic compounds which stay in the air all day and pollute the environment. Some of the chemicals cause eye irritation or respiratory problems and many have been linked to cancer. The alternative? Select cleaners from a line of commercial green products or make some of your own home remedies, Kiefer said. She says the Seventh Generation, ECOS and ECover brands are very good. Kiefer practices what she preaches. At the center, the staff use Seventh Generation products. At home, Kiefer uses a lot of vinegar and water to clean and disinfect. "It smells a little bit, but it disappears very quickly," she said. During classes, Kiefer has participants test a number of homemade cleaning products. The results, she said, were reassuring. "As far as home products, they're always cost effective you can save a bundle," she said. "And most are as effective as commercial products. "There are a lot of home remedies out there that work really well," Kiefer said. "I didn't expect them to work as well as they did." Learning to live an environmentally friendly life is a step-by-step process, she said. "It's really a long journey, but step-by-step, the more you learn the more it leads to you find other things you can be doing," Kiefer said. "Each aspect or facet of your life has the potential of affecting our world in a negative or positive aspect. I feel more confident by being educated, reading labels and trying out alternative products." Here are some recipes for home remedies. All-purpose cleaner: 1 quart warm water plus 4 tablespoons baking soda plus 1 teaspoon vinegar. Carpet refresher: 2 parts cornmeal plus 1 part baking soda. Let sit 1 hour and vacuum. Carpet stains: Baking soda plus water or club soda. Glass and window cleaner: Club soda or half-part vinegar plus half-part water or rubbing alcohol plus water. Wood polish: Two parts vegetable or olive oil plus 1 part lemon juice. If you use juice, this must be refrigerated. You can substitute lemon oil. Toilet bowl cleaner: 1/2 cup liquid soap plus 2 cups baking soda. Mix well. Add 1/4 cup water plus 2 tablespoons vinegar to make foam. Also try: A can of cola; let it sit 10 minutes in bowl and flush. Oven cleaner: Cover spills with baking soda or salt (for grease) and soapy water (while oven is still warm). Let sit 10 minutes and wipe off. A pumice stone can be used on tough stains. Rust and stain removal: Use a mixture of equal parts salt and lemon juice. Jewelry cleaner: 1 teaspoon salt plus 1 teaspoon baking soda. Fill jar halfway with quarter-size bits of aluminum foil. Add warm water. Drop jewelry in for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Polish with a soft cloth. Stainless steel: Use baking soda and soft-sided sponge. Toothpaste works, too. Copper and brass polish: 1/2 cup vinegar plus 1 tablespoon salt. Insecticides for plants: 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce plus 2 teaspoons liquid soap and water. Spray on plants, but don't use too much. Grout cleaner: Rub lightly with sandpaper or use toothpaste and a toothbrush.  RETURN TO TOP |
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